Introduction

In the world of agile and Scrum, the Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) training course is your essential guide to becoming a master of value creation. This course goes beyond a simple introduction to the role, providing a deep dive into the responsibilities of a Product Owner, from understanding the customer to maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Development Team. You will learn to expertly manage a product backlog, engage with stakeholders, and make critical decisions that drive product success in a dynamic environment.

This comprehensive 10-day training course is designed to solidify your understanding of the Scrum framework and how to apply it from the perspective of the Product Owner. Through a series of hands-on exercises, discussions, and real-world case studies, you will gain the skills needed to effectively lead product development, align business goals with team efforts, and prepare for the Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I) certification exam. This course is for anyone ready to take on the ultimate responsibility for a product's success.

Duration: 10 Days

Target Audience

• Product Owners and Product Managers
• Business Analysts and Project Managers
• Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches
• Team members seeking to understand the Product Owner role
• Stakeholders working with Scrum teams
• Anyone responsible for product value and profitability

Objectives

• Understand the core principles of the Scrum framework.
• Learn the roles, responsibilities, and mindset of a Product Owner.
• Master the art of managing and prioritizing the Product Backlog.
• Understand value and how to measure it for a product.
• Learn to effectively communicate with stakeholders and the Development Team.
• Gain techniques for forecasting and release planning.
• Prepare for and pass the Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I) certification.

Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to the Scrum Framework

• The history and purpose of Scrum.
• The three pillars of Scrum: transparency, inspection, and adaptation.
• The five Scrum values.
• The purpose of each Scrum event and artifact.
• The roles within a Scrum Team.

Module 2: The Role of the Product Owner

• The responsibilities of the Product Owner.
• The Product Owner as a value maximizer.
• Common challenges faced by Product Owners.
• The Product Owner's relationship with the Development Team.
• The Product Owner as a single, accountable individual.

Module 3: Defining and Managing the Product

• The importance of a clear product vision.
• Techniques for creating and communicating a vision.
• Understanding the concept of "Done."
• Defining the product's scope and boundaries.
• The Product Owner's role in product management.

Module 4: Understanding and Working with Value

• What constitutes value in a product.
• How to measure and track value.
• Business value vs. technical value.
• Techniques for making value-based decisions.
• The cost of delay and its impact.

Module 5: Product Backlog Management

• The purpose and characteristics of a Product Backlog.
• Creating and maintaining the Product Backlog.
• Ordering the Product Backlog effectively.
• The difference between a Product Backlog and a To-Do list.
• The relationship between the Product Backlog and requirements.

Module 6: Decomposing Work

• Techniques for breaking down large items.
• Writing effective Product Backlog items.
• User stories, Epics, and Themes.
• Understanding the "INVEST" criteria for user stories.
• The importance of continuous refinement.

Module 7: Stakeholder Management

• Identifying and understanding key stakeholders.
• Strategies for effective communication with stakeholders.
• The Product Owner as the liaison between stakeholders and the team.
• Managing stakeholder expectations.
• Saying "no" and setting boundaries.

Module 8: Forecasting and Release Planning

• The difference between a forecast and a commitment.
• Using velocity as a forecasting tool.
• Techniques for release planning.
• How to communicate a realistic forecast.
• Dealing with uncertainty in planning.

Module 9: The Product Backlog and Scrum Events

• The Product Owner's role in the Sprint Planning.
• The Daily Scrum from the Product Owner's perspective.
• What a Product Owner does during the Sprint.
• The Product Owner's role in the Sprint Review.
• The Product Owner's contribution to the Sprint Retrospective.

Module 10: Scrum with Multiple Teams

• Scaling Scrum and the Product Owner's role.
• The challenges of having multiple teams.
• Organizing Product Owners in a scaled environment.
• The importance of a single, shared Product Backlog.
• Synchronizing work and managing dependencies.

Module 11: The Scrum Master's Role

• The relationship between the Product Owner and the Scrum Master.
• How the Scrum Master helps the Product Owner.
• Facilitating collaboration and removing impediments.
• The Scrum Master as a servant-leader.
• Handling conflicts and difficult conversations.

Module 12: Advanced Product Backlog Items

• Using user story mapping for product roadmapping.
• Creating and using Personas.
• The purpose of Product Goal and Sprint Goal.
• Acceptance criteria and Definition of Done.
• Working with technical and non-functional requirements.

Module 13: Customer and User Feedback

• The importance of continuous feedback.
• Techniques for gathering user feedback.
• Conducting effective Sprint Reviews.
• Using feedback to update the Product Backlog.
• Closing the feedback loop.

Module 14: Practical Application

• Simulating the life of a Product Owner in a real-world project.
• Creating and managing a Product Backlog for a case study.
• Role-playing stakeholder conversations.
• Practicing Sprint Reviews and Sprint Planning.
• Applying all concepts to a continuous scenario.

Module 15: Review and Q&A

• A comprehensive review of all course topics.
• An opportunity to ask questions and clarify concepts.
• A deep dive into difficult areas.
• Recap of key responsibilities and practices.
• Final words of advice for applying the knowledge.

Module 16: PSPO I Exam Preparation

• An overview of the exam format and question types.
• Tips and tricks for passing the exam.
• A timed practice exam with detailed feedback.
• The structure of the exam and how to approach questions.
• Final advice for success on the certification.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.